Have you experienced a serious injury lately? Are you in pain and thinking about hiring a physical therapist?
If so, then you’re likely wondering — what injuries qualify for physical therapy? Can physical therapy help you treat your injuries?
It is imperative that you are aware of any pain or injuries in your body.
Ignoring them can lead to further issues and it is best to seek the aid of a physical therapist to alleviate existing pain and prevent greater injuries.
In this guide, we will list the common injuries that can be treated with the aid of physical therapy.
The Common Injuries That Physical Therapy Can Treat
If you have experienced any of the below injuries you should consult your doctor and ask them if physical therapy can help treat your injuries.
When choosing a physiotherapy clinic, make sure you choose a physical therapist whom you can get along with and who has experience with your particular injury.
Make sure you commit yourself to physical therapy so that you can alleviate and treat your injuries sooner.
Here are the common injuries that may require physical therapy for treatment:
Sports Injuries
Many injuries caused by playing sports can qualify for physical therapy.
1. Ankle Injury
Almost every athlete has a story about an ankle injury. If you happen to twist your ankle, you can strain or even tear your ankle’s connective tissue.
Your ankle can also be greatly sprained and may require longer physical therapy to heal.
2. Pulled Muscles
If you overuse your muscles after they are tired or after a strenuous sports match, you may “pull” them – meaning they will excessively stretch or even tear.
This usually occurs in your legs and can happen from running, jumping, or switching the weight pressure on your legs (think of the movements in tennis or basketball).
3. Knee Injuries
If you twist your knee or bend it in the wrong direction, you may sprain or even tear the ligaments in your knee. One of the worst knee injuries one can sustain is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
An ACL injury is one of the most common knee injuries that can occur when playing sports. As a result, physical therapists are used to treating this injury.
There are various ways to prevent ACL injury for athletes and alike. The most common one is to avoid exercise while overfatigue. It’s easy to make mistakes and forget about good posture when you’re tired. This is why it is important to get enough sleep — stop the workout before you get exhausted. In this way, you help prevent injury and your body can rest for the next workout.
4. Tennis Elbow
Tendinitis, or tennis elbow, happens when the muscle surrounding your elbow becomes inflamed. The inflammation happens due to overuse – hence, why it is associated with tennis players.
Tendinitis, however, can also affect other joints. Any sort of muscle inflammation should be a concern and should be directed to a physical therapist.
Other Injuries
Here are some other common injuries that you may be experiencing. If you do experience any of these, you should seek the attention of a physical therapist:
1. Back and Neck Pain
Especially with our largely sedentary lifestyles, we experience a lot of back and neck pain.
If you find you are experiencing strain on your back and neck, it is likely due to a muscle injury. This muscle injury happens when your muscle fibers overstretch and subsequently tear.
2. Arm and Shoulder Pain
While this pain can be the result of a sports injury, it can also be caused due to existing heart problems.
Arm and shoulder pain can include Tendinitis (mentioned above), but can also be extended to rotator cuff injury and carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you have broken or sprained the bones in your arm and/or shoulder, you can use physical therapy to help the bones heal while you recover.
3. Post-surgical Conditions
After surgery, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help you recover.
After surgery, it is likely that the body will weaken and may be immobilized. This is the perfect time for a physical therapist to help a patient recover and remobilize their body.
4. Decreased Range of Motion
During a physical therapy evaluation, your physical therapist may find that you have a decreased range of motion.
This occurs when you are not using your muscles to move your body. This can often happen after surgery; if you were to have knee surgery, it may take time for you to be able to use your knee for movement.
Physical therapy is the best option for helping these muscles heal and function once again.
What to Know
Finally, here is what you need to know about injuries that may occur and need physical therapy.
1. Sprains Are Common
Unfortunately, sprains are a common occurrence – especially when playing sports or doing any intense physical activity.
If you have put a lot of strain on your body lately, you may suddenly experience a sprain when lifting a heavy object or even going for a short walk.
2. Be Aware of Muscle Strains
As you have learned about muscle strains, you know they are a cause for concern.
If muscle strains are not cared for immediately, they can lead to an overuse injury. At the very first indication of a strain in your muscles, reach out to a physical therapist.
3. Loss of Balance
Have you noticed yourself being more unstable lately? Muscle instability, or loss of balance, might mean you need physical therapy.
For example, if you have muscle instability in your ankle, you may find yourself falling over or your ankle rolling to the side.
If you have pain in your back and neck or your arms and shoulder, you may also experience loss of balance. If you suffer from any existing chronic pain, a common side effect may also be a loss of balance.
4. Look Out for ‘Itis’
If your doctor informs you that you have an injury ending with the suffix itis, you will likely need physical therapy immediately.
As we mentioned in this guide, these occur when there is a strain on muscle tissue. The strain occurs when the muscle gets swollen or inflamed.
Your physical therapist will put you through a conditioning program that will decrease the swelling or inflammation and help you use your muscles properly once again.
Look After Yourself
Now that you know the common injuries that can be treated with physical therapy, we encourage you to find your physical therapist and look after yourself. Be sure to follow us and read more content about looking after your health and well-being.
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